Shoe for a hand-held iron



April 1, 1969 J. K. DlKOFF SHOE FOR A HAND-HELD IRON Filed NOV. 15, 1967 FIG.5

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United States Patent 3,435,548 SHOE FOR A HAND-HELD IRON Joseph K. Dikoif, 15004 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, Calif. 91401 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 530,998, Mar. 1, 1966. This application Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,183

Int. Cl. D06f 75/38 U.S. C]. 38-97 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 530,998, filed Mar. 1, 1966.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention is directed to a new and novel accessory attachable to a steam iron for improving the operation of such iron.

Description of the prior art There have been heretofore proposed shoes attachable to the underside of the sole of a steam iron to improve the characteristics of such iron. By way of example, US. Patent No. 2,750,697 issued June 19, 1956 to S. Jacobson and US. Patent No. 2,876,565 issued Mar. 10, 1959 to S. Jacobson disclose a shoe incorporating polytetrafluoroethylene that is attachable to the underside of the shoe of a steam iron. This shoe is said to prevent burning of the textile being ironed and to otherwise improve the operation of the steam iron. In use, however, it has been determined that the polytetrafiuoroethylene material is easily scratched from contact with buckles, zippers or the like. Additionally, it has been found that in utilizing such polytetrafiuoroethylene shoes it is necessary to recalibrate the temperature adjustment of the steam iron as compared to the standard calibration of the iron. It has also been found that after use, moisture from the steam is trapped between the underside of the sole and the polytetrafiuoroethylene shoe. This water oxidizes and causes pitting of the underside of the sole.

It is also known to provide a shoe formed of a cloth woven from aromatic polyamides disclosed in my US. Patent No. 3,269,040.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The shoe embodied in my present invention eliminates all of the disadvantages of the polytetrafiuoroethylene ironing shoe while providing the advantages of the cloth shoe disclosed in my Patent No. 3,268,040, but at much less cost than said cloth shoe.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a steam iron shoe ice embodying the present invention attached to an iron in operative position;

FIG. 2 is a broken sectional view taken in enlarged scale along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the area designated 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a steam iron embodying a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the area designated 7 in FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a shoe S utilizing a first embodiment of the present invention attached to the sole 9 of a conventional steam iron I. The shoe S includes a rigid frame, generally designated 10, which has a configuration generally corresponding to the lower portion of the iron sole. A sheet 14 of high temperature resistant paper is stretched across the underside of the frame 10. The chemical details of the sheet 10 are set forth in detail hereinafter.

More particularly, the frame 10 is preferably of metallic construction and includes an inner wall 16 that extends upwardly and slightly outwardly. The lower end of the inner wall 16 generally corresponds to the periphery of the lower end of the iron sole 9. The upper end of the inner wall 16 is integrally jointed to a horizontal top wall 18. A depending lip 20 is integral with the outer edge of the top wall 18, with an upwardly-extending recess 22 being defined between the confines of the inner wall 16, upper wall 18 and outer wall 20, as indicated particularly in FIG. 2. The frame 10 may be formed in a conventional manner.

The paper utilized to form sheet 14 is of the type designated NOMEX high temperature resistant paper marketed by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., of Wilmington, Del. Such paper is formed of short rfibers of aromatic polyamides that are pressed into a pulp and processed on conventional paper-making equipment.

The aromatic polyamides employed are high molecular weight polymers characterized predominately by the recurring structural unit wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl and wherein Ar, and Ar may be the same or different and may be an unsubstituted divalent aromatic radical or a substituted divalent aromatic radical, the chain-extending bonds of these divalent aromatic radicals being oriented meta or para to one another and the substitutents attached to any aromatic nucleus being one or more or a mixture of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, nitri, lower carbalkoxy, or other groups which do not form a polyamide during polymerization.

It will be seen that repeating units are linked by a carbonamide group, i.e., the

radical (R being the same as above indicated), the nitrogen and carbonyl of each repeating carbonamide radical being directly attached to a carbon atom in the ring of an aromatic radical; that is, the nitrogen and carbonyl of each repeating carbonamide group each replaces a hydrogen of an aromatic ring. The term aromatic ring means a carbocyclic ring possessing resonance. Ex-

emplary aromatic radicals have the following structural formulas Q Q? QQ 4 matic polyamides are compounds of the: formula H N-AR -NH and R --HNAR -NHR where R is hydrogen or lower alkyl and Ar is a divalent arom atic radical as defined above and the -NH and --NHR groups are oriented meta or para with respect to 5 each other. The diamines may contain single or multiple rings as well as fused rings. One or more hydrogens of the aromatic nucleus may be replaced by Iron-polyamidein which R is Preferably a lower alkyl 9 or forming groups such as lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halohalogeh group n is a number from Inclusive and X gen, nitro, sulfonyl, lower carbalkoxy as mentioned above. is Preferably one of the groups of 10 The aromatic nucleus of the diarnines may be identical to 0 any of the aromatic radicals mentioned above for the diacid chlorides, and the diamine utilized in any given II I I instance may contain the same or different aromatic O Y radical as the diacid chloride utilized. The total number and O, in which Y is a hydrogen or a lower alk of carbon atoms in the substituent groups attached to any group. X may also be a lower alkylene or lower alkylene aromatic ring Should not exceed i dioXy group although these are somewhat less desirable. Exemplary diet-nines hi h may b tili d i l d R may also be a nitro, lower carbalkoxy, or other nonmeta phenyiene i i d lower lk l b tit t d polyamide-forming group. All of these aromatic radicals 2O meta pheny1ene diamine such as methyp ethyh propyp, are divalent and meta or para oriented, i.e., the unsatlsetc meta pheny1ene i cdi l h p fied bonds of the radicals (the chain-extending bonds ene diamine, N,N' diethyhnetapheny1ehe di j when the radical is viewed in the repeating unit of the The aromatic polyamides u f l i hi i ti structural formula of the polymer) are meta or para orlmethods f making same and resulting properties h f ehted With respect to each Otheh one or more of the are set forth in great detail in US. Patent No. 3,094,511, matic radicals contain substituent groups as indicated and issued June 1 1963 d i l d Wh ll A ti any aromatic ring may contain two or more of the same polyamides, or different substituent groups. Preferable, however, are The disclosure f i patent i i t d h i high molecular Weight Polymers in which the aromatic by the foregoing reference. Particular mention should be radicals are unsubstituted or contain only lower alkyl made, however, f h i h melting point of h aromatic groups atta h d t any one ring The term 'P Y' polyamides of the type described, their melting points amide-forming groups refers to groups which do not form being n in excess f 300 c and in general, lying polyamides during the polymerization reaction herein disabout 3 50 Q closed. The term chain-extending bond refers to any Sheet 14 is Shown f r d i h f ti 26 to bond in the polyamide which, if broken, would decrease mit free fl f steam f the iron sole 9 downwardly the length of the P y Chathonto the material being ironed.

High molecular Weight aromatic polyamides are p It should be particularly noted that either one or both pared by reacting an aromatic diacid chloride with an aro- Sides f the Sheet 14 may be coated i h a hi hp matic diamine, the acid groups of the diacid chloride and ture resistant moisture Sealing medium that prevents the amine groups of the diamihe being meta 0r P 40 fuzzing of the underside of the sheeet and also provides oriented relative to each other, at low temperatures (bean i i surface of maximum smoothness I practice 10W coating of solely the outside of the sheeet (i.e., the un- The chloride Of the dibasic aromatic acid US6- derside) has proven satisfactory The provision of Such flll as reactant in the Polymerization includes smooth ironing surface permits the iron to he slid over Pounds of the formula the material being ironed rapidly. This is an important 0 feature when the iron is used in commerical establishg A ll ments where the personnel are paid by the piece. Such Ig-C-H3l t coating of the sheet 14 also prevents moisture from enterwhereln Ar 1s a divalent aromatic radical, no, it coning the pores Of the sheet and thereby causing the Sheet tain resonant unsaturation, and Hal is a halogen atom to blister under high temperature conditions from the class consisting of chlorine, bromine, and fluo- Various hi temperature resistant mediums may be rine. The aromatic radical may have a single, multiple, employed. By way of example, the following materials or fused ring structure. One or more hydrogens of the may be utilized:

Trade Name Chemical Class Manufacturer Silicone resin Dow-Corning Co.

Epon 422-:

Oxiron 2001 0-400 Pyre-M.L

aromatic nucleus may be replaced by non-polyamideforming groups such as lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, nitro, sulfonyl, lower carbalkoxy, and the like. The terms lower alkyl and lower alkoxy and lower carbalkoxy refer to groups containing less than five car bon atoms.

Diacid chlorides which may be utilized to prepare the polyamides include isophthaloyl chloride and lower alkyl isophthaloyl chlorides, such as methyl-, ethyl, propyl, etc., isophthaloyl chlorides.

. Dow-Chemical Co.

. Shell Chemical Co.

FMC Corp.

Sperex 00., Los Angeles.

.. E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co. Wilmington,

Delaware.

The periphery of the aromatic polyamide sheet 14 is preferably removably secured to the frame 10. Thus, as indicated particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6, the periphery of the sheet 14 extends beyond the periphery of the frame 0 10, and is doubled-over Within the recess 22, as indicated at 24. The doubled-over length 24 of the sheeet 14 is normally wedged within the frame recess 22 by means of elongated element such as a wire 27. The wire 27 is readily removable from within the recess 22 to permit re- The diamines useful as reactants in forming the aroplacement of the sheet 14.

It is also preferable that the frame be removably attached to the steam iron I. To this end, the sides of the frame 10 are provided with upstanding lugs 30. The lugs 30 receive the opposite ends of a steel spring 32 that passes ulpwardly over the upward nose portion of the steam iron I, as indicated particularly in FIG. 5.

In the use of the aforedescribed shoe S it has been found that the temperature of the iron may be raised up to 700 F. without burning the textile being ironed. Additionally, utilizing the shoe S of the present invention will prevent a shine being imparted to the textile Ibeing ironed. The use of the shoe will bring up the nap of the textile being ironed because of the slight drag imparted by the sheet 14 to such textile. Additionally, because the sheet 14 is apertured any moisture remaining between the upper surface of the sheet 14 and the underside of the sole 9 will quickly dry. Accordingly, the underside of the sole 9 will not become pitted. In actual use it has been determined that the temlperature calibration of the iron I for different fabrics may remain the same with or without the shoe S. This eliminates the necessity of recalibrating the temperature control of the iron when the shoe S is utilized. It will be apparent that the aforedescribed shoe embodying the present invention will be economical of manufacture because of the considerably lower cost of aromatic polyamide as compared to polytetrafluoroethylene.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment sheet 14 is replaced by sheet 14' comprising an apertured sheet 40 of aromatic polyamide similar to sheet 14 that is laminated to a second sheet 22 of woven aromatic polyamide fibers. The latter may be of the type sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. under the trademark Nomex, and will preferably be sufficiently porous to freely pass steam. Preferably, the sheets 40 and 42 are adhered together by a suitable high temperature resistant material.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a third form of sheet 14" comprising a sheet 44 of woven aromatic polyamide fibers to both sides of which are laminated sheets 46 and 48 of aperture aromatic polyamide paper similar to sheet 14 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment a sheet 50 of aromatic polyamide is directly laminated over the iron sole 9. Such sheet 50 may either be similar to woven fiber sheet 42 described hereinabove or similar to the apertured sheet 14 described hereinabove. Alternatively, sheet 50 may be similar to the aforedescribed laminated sheets 14' and 14".

Other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe for a hand-held steam iron, comprising:

a sheet of paper formed of short fibers of aromatic polyarnides, said sheet being perforated to permit free flow of steam from said iron, and said aromatic polyamide consisting essentially of the recurring structural unit wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl and wherein Ar and Ar are selected from unsubstituted divalent aromatic radicals and substituted divalent aromatic radicals, the chain-extending bonds of said divalent aromatic radicals being oriented meta to one another, and the substitutions being non-polyamide forming during polymerization;

a coating of high-temperature resistant moisture sealing medium on said sheet that prevents fuzzing and prevents moisture from entering the pores of said sheet;

and means for attaching said sheet to the sole of said iron.

2. A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said sheet to the sole of said iron includes a rigid open frame removably securable to said iron, with said sheet extending across said frame.

3. A shoe for a hand-held steam iron, comprising:

a sheet of paper formed of short fibers of aromatic polyarnides, said sheet being perforated to permit free flow of steam from said iron; a sheet of woven aromating polyamide fibers laminated to said firstmentioned sheet, said fibers having a porosity suflicient to freely pass steam from said iron, and the aromatic polyamide of both said sheets consisting essentially of the recurring structural unit.

R R1 0 O l I H II wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl and wherein Ar and Ar are selected from unsubstituted divalent aromatic radicals and substituted divalent aromatic radicals, the chain-extending bonds of said divalent aromatic radicals being oriented meta to one another, and the substitutions being non-polyamide forming during polymerization;

and means for attaching said laminated sheets to the sole of said iron.

4. A shoe as set forth in claim 3 wherein one of said sheets is provided with a coating of high-temperature resistant moisture sealing medium that prevents fuzzing and prevents moisture from entering the pores of said sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,750,697 6/1956 Jacobson 3897 2,876,565 3/1959 Jacobson 3897 3,121,965 2/ 1964 McBride 3897 3,269,040 8/1966 Kikoff 38-97 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

